Iguanas

ARTICLES ABOUT IGUANAS BY DATE - PAGE 2

Iguanas are not aggressive or vicious, and although not native, they are a welcome addition to my property. All those upset at the large numbers invading their property and eating plants were glad that the freeze would kill them and remove the problem without having to spend money on trappers. Now they have to worry about their dogs eating the dead reptiles. Leave nature alone, and you'll have far less problems. This is not an invasive species that will be as dangerous as killer bees or government-imported species brought in to eradicate another pest, only to become pests themselves, as carp did in the canals they were put in to eradicate invasive vegetation.

By David Fleshler and Lisa J. Huriash, Sun Sentinel, February 11, 2010

Vultures circled over Everglades National Park's Anhinga Trail, where thousands of dead non-native fish floated in the marshes. About half the Burmese pythons found in the park in the past few weeks were dead. Dead iguanas have dropped from trees onto patios across South Florida. And in western Miami-Dade County, three African rock pythons — powerful constrictors that can kill people — have turned up dead. Although South Florida's warm, moist climate has nurtured a vast range of non-native plants and animals, a cold snap last month reminded these unwanted guests they're not in Burma or Ecuador anymore.

To some dogs, discovering a dead lizard in the yard is like finding a treat on the kitchen floor. It also can be deadly. A month after frigid temperatures killed reptiles all over South Florida, veterinarians are still treating dogs that may have contracted botulism by gnawing iguana carcasses. The result: paralysis so severe that a few dogs had to be euthanized. Thousands of iguanas, like other cold-blooded creatures, froze to death during the freeze. Some dogs, mistaking them for chew toys, have shown classic symptoms of a disease so rare that most vets don't see a case for a decade.

Comatose iguanas tumbled off trees. Countless native and exotic fish floated to the surface. Manatees huddled at warm-water outfalls of power plants. And young sea turtles, seized by the cold, bobbed to the top like beach balls. Even the notoriously elusive pythons, the large snakes that seem to be spreading in the Everglades, have slithered lethargically out of hiding to soak up what warmth they can from the sun. South Florida, with its normally sunny climate, has become a breeding ground for exotic animals, a sport fishing mecca and a virtual zoo-within-a-state.

In response to the article, "Pesky iguanas may meet their match" on Jan. 5. I am disgusted and disappointed in people who wish and hope that iguanas will die in the cold. More horrifying is the fact that it is now legal to kill iguanas. When did life become so invaluable? It seems that every time an animal becomes a "nuisance" to humans, we decide the best way to handle things it to kill them. Shame on the human race. If only we could get rid of "nuisance" people so easily.

Hey folks, I haven't heard anyone discuss the impact the cold is having, and will have, on iguanas among us. Perhaps this is a chance to scoop up their chill-stunned bodies and rid our neighborhoods of this incredibly annoying pest. Check it out for us, please. And stay warm. Jay Van Vechten, Boca Raton